Things you must do whilst going to school in Michigan

Going to school in Michigan is a once in a lifetime opportunity that you must take advantage of! There are so many places to see and do within a few hours drive away from campus (most are even closer). No matter if your interest are based around outdoor activities, or something more sight-based, I have a list of four places that are a MUST-DO whilst you are here, and hopefully one of these you will find interesting!

The first on the list is something close to campus (less than an hours drive away) – The Detroit Eastern Market. The Detroit Eastern Market is held each Saturday, and is a huge event within the Detroit area. If you’re willing to spend a morning or afternoon slowing making your way through the stalls, than this is the activity for you. Going to the Detroit Eastern Market is a perfect place to see local produce, and invest money back into the Detroit community. Here is a link to it’s website: http://www.detroiteasternmarket.com

Next up is for those of you who are into the thrill of adventures: Cedar Point. Now, although this theme park is located in Ohio, it is less than two hours away from campus! This is also a great way to have a reason to see another state in America outside of Michigan. Cedar Point has many rides and if you enjoy the water, there is a water park just next door. Cedar Points’ website: https://www.cedarpoint.com

The final two activities on the list are natural wonders that you must see: Sleeping Bear Dunes and Niagara Falls. Lets start off with Sleeping Bear Dunes. Sleeping Bear Dunes has the biggest sand dunes that I have ever seen! They are located at Lake Michigan (one of the five great lakes) and it is about a ten minutes walk down the dunes to get to Lake Michigan, however, about an hour and a half climb to get back up to the top. I know that it sounds exhausting, but the view is amazing, and it is always nice to have a swim in the clear-water lake before climbing back up. Here is Sleeping Bear Dunes website: http://www.sleepingbeardunes.com . The other is Niagara Falls. I’m sure most of you have heard of Niagara Falls and how is it located in both Canada and America, but if you want my personal opinion the drive to the Canadian side of the falls is worth you time. You are able to visit the falls year round, and so no matter when you go I’m sure it will be an experience to remember. You could go in Winter, and you might be lucky enough to see the falls frozen, or if you don’t enjoy the could too much, maybe going in Fall or Spring is the time for you. The website: http://niagarafallstourism.com

Although not all of these activities will sound exciting to you, I hope at least one does, as they really are worth you going an experience each place as their own. I encourage you to make the most of your time in America and see as many places as you are able to whilst you are here.

by Adele

To meet our HELLO! team, visit www.emich.edu/ois/teamhello.

For a complete checklist, visit www.emich.edu/ois/checklist.

Living on campus

Living on campus is another great housing option for students here at EMU. It is the best way to get the most college experience here at EMU. Also there is many options available no matter what your looking for.

There's two different types of housing options you can choose from, Residence Halls and University Apartments. Even within these options there's still many more because there are different Residence Hall options and University Apartment options. Within the Residence Halls there are 10 different options to choose from and within the University Apartments there are 4.

I have experienced both housing options here at EMU and enjoyed them very much. Some of my most memorable memories were made in the Residence Halls were I met my most closest friends whom I am still close with. My roommate that I had for the first two years here at EMU is now one of my closest friends and is like a sister to me.

So if you want to get the most experience out of your stay here at EMU then I think you should choose to live on campus. By staying on campus you can be closer to your classes, meet new people, and make memories that you'll never forget.

by Kemia
To learn more about housing visit www.emich.edu/ois/housing.
For a complete checklist, visit www.emich.edu/ois/checklist.

Ypsilanti Coffee Shops

If you need a break from studying on campus and are looking for a good cup of coffee, there are plenty of places to choose from in the Ypsi area. Here are a few of my favorite places to enjoy coffee and study.

The Ugly Mug

https://uglymugypsi.com/

Located very close to campus at 317 Cross Street, the Ugly Mug is a great place to meet friends to chat or to study alone. While the weather is a bit warmer, it is nice to sit outside and work (one of the few places around with plugs/outlets outside!) There are a lot of drinks to choose from, my favorites are the Milky Wray and Mexican Latte.  This is a good environment if you are a person who does not need silence to work to study, as there is always music playing and it is a meeting spot for people to get together and chat. When you order, be sure to ask for the Wifi password, as it changes every day!

Sweetwaters

http://www.sweetwaterscafe.com/

Sweetwaters is probably the most convenient place to sit, sip and study just because of the location. It is located directly across from campus at 735 W. Cross Street. The nice thing about studying here is that they have a very large and tall table next to the front window, so it is easy to spread out all of your papers, laptop, and whatever else you need. The coffee is on the more expressive end of the spectrum, but the environment is on the peaceful side. If you decide to go here, I recommend the French Vietnamese Au Lait. It is very sweet though, so only order if you enjoy sweet drinks!

Café Ollie

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Cafe-Ollie/195777093771737

This is my personal favorite when it comes to having some coffee and studying for finals. Café Ollie is a locally owned restaurant/café that has a lot of delicious menu items if you are looking for a meal to go with your drink. It is a moderately quiet and spacious place to work. There are large tables so you can feel comfortable working with a group or working alone. The coffee drinks are nothing unique, but they are still yummy enough to take the trek to Depot Town and enjoy while working on homework. (42. E. Cross St)

Beezy’s Café

http://beezyscafe.com/

If you want delicious iced coffee… this is the place to go. Every time that I order the iced coffee here, I am impressed. This is more of a breakfast place than a coffee shop, but you can see a lot of people sitting comfortably at the tables while reading a book or working on the computer. This is the furthest from campus of all the options, but if you are looking to enjoy breakfast and stay a while, it is worth the trip. The environment is very friendly and comfortable. (20 N. Washington St.)

Biggby

http://www.mlive.com/business/ann-arbor/index.ssf/2013/12/biggby_coffee_opens_sixth_stor.html

Although it is a coffee chain… it is a Michigan coffee chain so I think that still counts as “local.” This newly opened Biggby on 1510 Washtenaw Ave is an awesome place to study. It is usually very quiet with just some light music in the background and not many people have figured out that it is there yet, so there aren’t many people. The espresso drinks are strong and always delicious. My favorite is the iced Chuckle Bear (it isn’t on  the menu, but it is chocolate, caramel and almond and it is so sweet and so amazing!) Another nice thing about Biggby is that they have frequency cards so be sure to take advantage of that and buy 12 drinks and get the 13^th free. 

Student Organizations

When you first go to college you go to learn new things, explore your interests, and meet new people so why not join a student organization. EMU offers a wide array of organizations that you can join. From arts and sciences to nationalities and religion, there is an organization for everyone.



Why join a student organization, what's the point you say, because there are more benefits to joining one than just socializing. You can gain school credit, work with faculty, learn new ideas, gain useful skills, and develop leadership and organizational skills. There are so many great experiences that you can have from joining a student organization and if you are interested and want to find out more about them you can:

-Go to the Student Org website

-Check the Student Involvement handbook (which you can pick up at the student center)

-Check out campus events that the student organization is having

I really hope that when you guys come in the fall that you will check out some of our organizations and please take a look at the website for more in dept details on each one of them.

by Kemia
Check out the profiles of team HELLO! at www.emich.edu/ois/teamhello.

Living off campus

 

Image Source: http://einsteinmoving.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/apartment-for-rent.jpg

Eastern Michigan University offers many on campus residence halls for students to live in while attending school. However, did you know you could also live off campus as well? There are many places to live in the Ypsilanti/Ann Arbor area that cater to students who do not want to live on campus. Below are some of the benefits of choosing to live off campus.

More Privacy

Image Source: http://usatcollege.files.wordpress.com/2013/05/300-0513-couch.jpg?w=1000

In the dorms on campus you will most likely have to share either your room or living space with someone. Unless you are best friends with your roommates and suitemates, this may make you uncomfortable. By living off campus you can have an entire apartment to yourself if you want. This also means more space. In addition to having a larger room and living space, you can also have a kitchen and full bathroom.

Save Money and Cook for Yourself

Image Source: http://media3.onsugar.com/files/2012/05/18/3/192/1922729/56916f980c6c0b9f_83590625.preview.jpg

Living on campus can be expensive depending on where you live and what type of meal plan you have. If you live off campus you are not required to have a meal plan. This means you can save money and grocery shop for yourself. Most of our international students don’t enjoy the food offered on campus, so this is a great opportunity to cook meals like you enjoy in your home county.

Personally Choose all Roommates

Image Source: http://dingo.care2.com/pictures/greenliving/1301/1300608.large.jpg

If you don’t want to live alone you can choose to have a roommate. Our school has a system that helps pair you with roommates, and you can sometimes personally choose to room with someone. However, you are not always guaranteed to live with everyone you choose. By living off campus you can choose who you want to live with and meet them before move in day. Having a roommate can also lower the cost of living off campus if you split rent and bills. 

Less Rules

Image Source: http://blog.sparefoot.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/dog-apartment.jpg

In the dorms there are a lot of rules to keep everyone safe and comfortable. Sometimes all the rules can make your experience less enjoyable. Living off campus offers more freedom to do what you want. Depending on where you live you can do things like have pets, decorate, control the temperature, use all types of appliances, live with the opposite sex, and have as many people over as you want.

I have been living off campus now for two years and it has been a great experience. I think living off campus is convenient and saves a lot of money. I live close enough to walk to both the main campus and the College of Business. I like being able to cook my own food and not bother anyone if I decide to stay up late or get up early. However, living off campus is not for everyone. Take the time to do some research to see if living off campus is the best thing for you. If you have any questions about living off campus you can leave them in the comments. 

by Tyrie

Free activities in town

Summer is here and it's finally time to get outside and explore the city! And what better way to do that than for free? Ypsilanti and Ann Arbor are bustling with free events to keep you entertained without breaking your wallet. Here are a few of the highlights:

What: Depot Town Cruise Nights

Classic cars drive through Depot Town while music plays!

When: June 5-September 11, 6-9 pm

Where: Cross Street, Depot Town

For more info: http://visitypsinow.com/events/depot-town-cruise-nights/

What: Ypsilanti Heritage Festival

Music, food, dancing, and entertainment for adults and kids!

When: August 15-17

Where: Riverside Park

For more info: http://www.ypsilantiheritagefestival.com/

What: Ann Arbor Summer Festival

Free movies and music at night!

When: June 13-July 6

Where: Rackham Stage

For more info: http://a2sf.org/desktop/

What: First Fridays Ypsilanti

Free art shows in local restaurants and stores.

When: First Friday of every month

Where: Various restaurants and locations in Ypsilanti

For more info: https://www.facebook.com/pages/First-Fridays-Ypsilanti/552291158134650

What: Ypsilanti District Library

Various programs for children, adults, and families. 

When: Almost every day during the summer

Where: YDL-Whittaker, YDL-Michigan, YDL-Superior

For more info: http://www.ypsilibrary.org/events

There are many more ways to get free things in town. Is your birthday in June, July, or August? If so, you are in luck! There are many opportunities to get free meals or dessert for your birthday! Just check out these websites:

http://localwiki.net/ann-arbor/Birthday_Deals

http://freebirthdaymeals.org/index.php?city=Ypsilanti&state=MI

Or perhaps you have heard of the Color Run? It is a 5K that is run through Ypsilanti, and there are groups of people who throw color at you! Many families and groups of friends run this race together, and it is lots of fun and very popular....and expensive. One easy way to enjoy the Color Run for free is to take some chairs outside and just sit and watch! Or you can even volunteer to help at the race-you get a T-shirt! Take a look at this site:

http://thecolorrun.com/ypsilanti/

You don't have to spend money to have fun here in town! Happy Summer!

by Clarissa